11 Dec 2014

The Vice President, Mr Mokgweetsi Masisi, says he is not ashamed to tell the country that his predecessors at the Ministry of Education and Skills Development have successfully put the once rough and difficult ministry under control. 


Mr Masisi made the remarks at a farewell party hosted for former Minister of Education and Skills Development, Dr Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi and her former assistant ministers, Messrs Patrick Masimolole and Keletso Rakhudu in Gaborone on December 10.


The Vice President said the trio should be congratulated for they have made the country proud and the ministry progressive.

He said as the new broom at the ministry, he had found a firm foundation for the teaching atmosphere, adding that the trio had to face teachers, parents and the general society in their quest for engagement and deliverance at ministry level.


Mr Masisi told the gathering which included different stakeholders in the education sector, that it was rare to appreciate and thank people when they had done so well and as such said the trio should have a reason to be celebrated.


Nevertheless, Mr Masisi said the ministry’s officials and staff also needed to be recognised for their support and sterling job which they did in partnership with the three former ministers. 


Speaking at the same event, Dr Venson-Moitoi, who is now the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, said though she could not congratulate herself, she felt she and her team had done a good job and naturally felt inclined to remain at the ministry to continue the good work uninterrupted.


Dr Venson-Moitoi however thanked her lieutenants for the bravery and dexterity they displayed especially during turbulent times when they addressed teachers who did not want to hear anything from the ministers.


However, she said, through determination and perseverance, the assistant ministers prevailed and reached a common consensus with the teachers.
 For their part Messrs Masimolole and Rakhudu said they have played their part and learnt a lot at the ministry, which they said was one of the difficult ministries.

However they said they were still willing to be engaged and offer advice where possible, noting that it did not mean that they were no longer relevant in the ministry just because they had lost political office.

They however said they were happy that the ministry was showing signs of improvement in performance rating. Mr Masimolole said he would not enjoy a restful retirement period if the ministry could nott fulfill its promise to establish the unified senior secondary schools in Takatokwane and Tsabong villages.

He said this project should not be left uncompleted as it was crucial and was placed high on the ministry’s agenda.  ENDS